JP3099589B2 - Dehumidifying / humidifying device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dehumidifying / humidifying device for controlling an indoor environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of indoor environment control device is mainly a product having a single function, and as an indoor environment control device for comprehensively controlling the indoor environment, it is used in a special environment such as a clean room or a hospital. At present, the configuration is also a combination of single-function products, and there is almost no indoor environment control device intended for general home use. For this reason, conventionally, a method of maintaining the indoor environment comfortably by combining the above-mentioned products having the single function and using them according to the use environment has been adopted.

For example, when performing indoor dehumidification, a dry operation or dehumidifier of an air conditioner is used, when humidification is performed, various humidifiers are used, when indoor ventilation is performed, a ventilation fan is used, and when indoor air is circulated, air is circulated. This was done using a circulator or air purifier. In addition, among the single function products, there are compound products having about two functions, but there is no room environment control device having all functions. For this reason, it was not possible to predict the effect of a change in the outdoor environment on the indoor environment and control the equipment.

[0004] The applicant has considered a dehumidifying / humidifying apparatus in which each of the above functions can be obtained with a single device. Hereinafter, this dehumidifying / humidifying apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. At the time of the dehumidification operation, the room air is circulated through the adsorbent for a predetermined time while the heater is off in the path of (A), the indoor moisture is adsorbed on the adsorbent and the dry air is discharged to perform the dehumidification operation. In step (b), the air supply path is switched to the path (B), and the heater is turned on for a predetermined time to release the water adsorbed on the adsorbent and release it to the outside of the room. Make it possible. The above operation is repeated to perform indoor dehumidification. Further, the humidifying operation is performed by circulating the air in the air supply path of (B) for a predetermined time in a state where the heater is turned off, thereby adsorbing the outdoor moisture to the adsorbent.
The heater is turned on for a predetermined time to desorb the moisture adsorbed on the adsorbent and discharge it into the room. The above operation is repeated to perform the indoor humidification operation. That is, the dehumidifying / humidifying device performs the indoor dehumidifying / humidifying operation by switching the air blowing path by using the adsorption / desorption action of the adsorbent.

[0005]

However, the above dehumidifying and humidifying apparatus has a problem that even when it is used, dew condensation occurs on the window glass and the inner wall. That is, when the outdoor temperature at night or during the day is extremely reduced, the temperature difference between the indoor and the outdoor becomes large, and dew condensation occurs on the window glass and the inner wall portion with which the indoor and the outdoor come into contact. In other words, while the room is maintained at a certain temperature, if the outdoor temperature decreases, the temperature of the window glass and the inner wall also decreases.If this temperature falls below the dew point temperature determined by the room temperature and the indoor humidity, the temperature of the window glass and the inner wall decreases. This causes condensation on the surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and predicts the occurrence of dew condensation in a room due to a change in outdoor temperature by using a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor provided in an air supply unit. The purpose is to prevent it.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention has an air supply path and an exhaust path which can be switched between an indoor side and an outdoor side. In a dehumidifying and humidifying device having a configuration in which a blower for carrying the air is attached, a heater for heating air at an outlet of the blower, and an adsorbent formed of a porous structure are arranged downstream of the blower, the air is supplied to the inlet of the blower. A temperature sensor and a humidity sensor for detecting air temperature and supply air humidity are provided, and a dew point temperature calculation unit that calculates a room dew point temperature by a signal of the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor; and a dew point temperature calculation result obtained by the dew point temperature calculation result and the temperature sensor. A comparison unit for comparing the outdoor temperature and a condensation prevention control unit for outputting an operation instruction signal to the operation instruction unit based on the comparison result are provided.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the dew point temperature in the room is obtained by the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor, and when the outdoor temperature approaches the dew point temperature, the dehumidifying operation is started to lower the indoor humidity, and the dew point temperature is lowered to reduce the outdoor temperature. To prevent dew condensation due to a drop in water quality. That is, the dew point temperature of the room temperature at that time is determined by the dew point temperature calculation unit from the room temperature and the room humidity, and when the outdoor temperature approaches the dew point temperature, a dehumidifying operation is started to lower the room humidity and reduce the dew point temperature, Prevent condensation on window glass and inner walls.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, the configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
Is an indoor air inlet, 2 is a filter, 3 is a high-pressure discharge type air purifier, 3A is an air purifying filter, and adsorbs dust charged by the air purifier 3. 3B is a high voltage power supply,
It is a power supply for the air purifier 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a wind shield, which is installed so as not to blow air directly to the humidity sensor. Reference numeral 5 denotes a humidity sensor for detecting indoor and outdoor humidity.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a temperature sensor for detecting indoor and outdoor temperatures. Reference numeral 7 denotes a fan, 8 denotes a blower motor, 9 denotes a stepping motor, and 9A denotes a damper operated by the stepper motor 9, and adjusts a blown amount according to operating conditions. 10
Denotes a rectifying plate, and 11 denotes a heater, which heats air at the time of a desorbing operation to desorb water of the adsorbent.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an adsorbent, which adsorbs moisture in the air,
The adsorbed moisture is desorbed by heating the heater. 14
Is a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the blowing section. Fifteen
Is an indoor exhaust port, 16 is a stepping motor, 16A is an exhaust damper, operated by the stepping motor 16,
The exhaust path is switched. 17 is an outdoor exhaust port, 18 is an outdoor air supply port, 19 is a stepping motor, and 19A is an air supply damper, which is operated by the stepping motor 19 and switches the air supply path.

In the above configuration, the basic operation will be briefly described. In the dehumidifying operation, the air supply path is switched to the indoor air supply 1 and the indoor exhaust 15 first. In this state, the blower 8 is operated for a predetermined time to circulate room air through the adsorbent 13. That is, the moisture in the room air is adsorbed by the adsorbent 13, and the dry air is discharged into the room. After a lapse of a predetermined time during which the adsorption to the adsorbent is saturated, the air supply path is switched to the outdoor air supply 18 and the outdoor exhaust 17. Next, heater 1
The blower 8 is operated for a predetermined time in a state where 1 is heated, and the water adsorbed on the adsorbent 13 is desorbed and discharged outside the room. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the suction operation is performed again. Thus, indoor dehumidification is performed by repeating the operation of indoor adsorption and outdoor desorption. As described above, in the dehumidifying operation, the moisture in the room is automatically discharged to the outside of the room via the adsorbent, so that it is not necessary for a person to discharge the water accumulated by the dehumidification.

The humidifying operation humidifies the room by discharging the moisture outside the room into the room by an operation opposite to the dehumidifying operation.
In other words, the blower 8 is operated for a predetermined time by the outdoor air supply 18 and the outdoor exhaust 17 in the blowing path, and the outdoor moisture is adsorbed by the adsorbent 13. Next, the ventilation path is defined as indoor air supply 1 and indoor exhaust 15
And the blower 8 is operated for a predetermined time while the heater 11 is heated. Thereby, the moisture of the adsorbent 13 is desorbed and released into the room. Humidification is performed by repeating the above operation. In the case of the humidification operation, since the humidification is performed by using the outdoor moisture, the trouble of supplying water can be saved.

The dehumidifying and ventilating operation is an operation in which the indoor air is exhausted and the above-mentioned dehumidifying operation is added to the ventilating operation for introducing the fresh air outside the room. Air is dried by the adsorbent 13 and taken into the room. At the time of desorption, the ventilation path is set to indoor air supply 1,
The outdoor exhaust 17 is used to discharge dirty air in the room while performing a desorbing operation. Thus, the supply / discharge ventilation operation and the dehumidification operation are performed simultaneously.

In the humidifying ventilation operation, the indoor air supply 1,
The outdoor exhaust 17 is used to discharge indoor dirty air. At the same time, the moisture is adsorbed by the adsorbent 13, and the air blowing path is switched by the desorption operation to take in the outdoor air, and at the same time, the moisture of the adsorbent 13 is released into the room and humidified.

The ventilation operation is configured to perform four operations of forced air supply, forced air exhaustion, automatic air supply / discharge ventilation, and preheating ventilation, and the above ventilation mode is switched by switching the air supply path while the heater is not energized. . The selection between the supply / discharge automatic ventilation and the preheating ventilation is made by the signal of the supply air temperature sensor 6.

Similarly, the circulation operation also functions as a circulator by operating the blower 8 in the air supply path 1 for the indoor air supply 1 and the indoor exhaust air 15 when the heater is not energized.

As described above, six operation modes are created by combining the air blowing paths, and the indoor environment is controlled.

Next, a specific control configuration for performing the above operation will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 20 denotes a humidity setting unit for selecting an operation mode and setting a humidity control level. Reference numeral 21 denotes an outdoor air supply temperature setting unit for setting an outdoor air temperature for judging summer and winter. Reference numeral 22 denotes a basic operation setting unit which selects an operation of dehumidification or humidification according to the outdoor environment state determined by the supply air temperature sensor 6 and the outdoor temperature setting unit 21 and sets the operation. Reference numeral 23 denotes an operation mode change unit which selects an operation mode based on the indoor humidity state by the humidity sensor 5 and information determined by the humidity setting unit 20. Reference numeral 24 denotes a dew point temperature calculation unit that calculates a dew point temperature from room temperature data obtained by the supply air temperature sensor 6 and room humidity data obtained by the humidity sensor 5. Reference numeral 25 denotes a comparison unit which compares the calculation result of the dew point calculation unit 24 with outdoor temperature data.

Reference numeral 26 denotes an operation instructing unit which sets a load operation pattern for the above-mentioned six operation modes, and comprises six elements described below. 26A is a dehumidifying section, 26B is a humidifying section, 26C is a dehumidifying ventilation section,
26D is a humidification ventilation operation part, 26E is a ventilation operation part, 26F
Is a part in which the operation pattern of the load at each operation is set in the circulation operation part. An operation unit 27 is a unit for instructing an operation mode. The operation unit 27 includes an automatic operation instruction and a manual operation instruction unit for individually instructing each of the operation modes. The operation mode is controlled by a signal transmitted from each operation instruction unit. Select and send to the operation instruction unit 26. Reference numeral 28 denotes a display unit for displaying an outdoor temperature, a room temperature, and a room humidity based on each sensor information, and displaying an operation mode by a signal from the operation instruction unit 26. 29
Is a dew condensation control unit which sends a signal to the operation instruction unit 26 based on the output of the comparison unit 25, and performs a dew condensation prevention operation by the dehumidification operation unit 26A. Reference numeral 30 denotes a load control unit which supplies a signal to a drive circuit of each load according to the signal of the operation instruction unit 26.

The operation of the control unit in the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, during the humidification operation, this dehumidification controller performs the operation of preventing dew condensation that occurs at the boundary between indoor and outdoor due to the decrease in outdoor temperature by checking the dew point temperature, giving top priority to the window glass and inner wall. Eliminates condensation. Details of the dew condensation preventing operation will be described with reference to FIG. This check is performed not only during operation but also during standby, and when an environment where dew condensation is likely to occur, the dew condensation prevention operation, that is, the dehumidification operation is started with the highest priority.

The operation first reads the room temperature data,
Next, the indoor humidity data is read. The dew point temperature in the indoor environment at that time is obtained from these two data. As for the method of calculating the dew point temperature, when it is precisely obtained, it is performed using a prescribed arithmetic expression.However, this method is complicated and is not suitable for control, and generally depends on the room temperature and the humidity at that time. A method of multiplying by a predetermined coefficient is used. FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the room temperature and the dew point temperature at each humidity.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the indoor humidity is high, the difference between the indoor temperature and the dew point temperature is small, and dew condensation occurs even if the outdoor temperature is slightly reduced. In other words, it can be understood that the most effective method for preventing the occurrence of dew condensation is to lower the humidity and lower the dew point temperature. When the dew point temperature is obtained in this way,
The outdoor temperature data is read, and the outdoor temperature is compared with the dew point temperature + T (° C.). When the comparison result is dew point temperature + T <outdoor temperature, normal operation is continued, and when the comparison result is dew point temperature + T> outdoor temperature, the dehumidifying operation is started for a predetermined time in any operation state. When a predetermined time has elapsed, the above check is repeated again, and the dehumidifying operation is continued until the relationship of dew point temperature + T <outdoor temperature is satisfied.

Next, the dehumidifying operation will be described in the same manner with reference to FIG.
A signal is supplied to the dehumidifying operation unit 26A of the operation instruction unit 26 via the. When a signal is supplied, the stepping motor 1
6 and 19 are operated, the ventilation path is set to the outdoor air supply 18 and the indoor exhaust air 17, and the stepping motor 9 is operated.
The air volume adjusting plate 9A is set to the “closed” state. In this state, the blower 8 is operated at "weak", and at the same time, the heater 11 is turned on to operate for a predetermined time td. When the desorption time td has elapsed, the heater is turned off to check the supply air temperature, that is, the outdoor temperature, and the desorption purge time is set according to the outdoor temperature. In the above operation, the adsorbed water of the initial adsorbent 13 is desorbed, and the efficiency of the adsorption operation is increased.

When the desorption purge time td 'has elapsed, the air flow path is switched to indoor air supply 1 and indoor air exhaust 15, the air volume adjusting plate 9A is opened, and the blower 8 is operated at "high". Thereby, the indoor humidity is adsorbed by the adsorbent 13 and the dry air is discharged into the room to perform dehumidification. When the adsorption time ta elapses,
After the blower 8 has been changed to the "weak" operation and a predetermined time has elapsed, the above-described desorption operation is performed. Thereafter, by repeating the above operation, indoor humidity is discharged to the outside of the room to supply dry air, and maintenance-free dehumidifying operation is performed.

For reference, a typical one of the other operations will be described. First, the humidification operation will be described with reference to FIG. 6. When a humidification operation instruction is selected, a signal is supplied to the humidification operation unit 26B of the operation instruction unit 26 via the operation unit 27. When the signal is supplied, the stepping motor 16 is operated to set the air supply path to the indoor side, and the stepping motor 19 is operated to set the exhaust path to the indoor side.
Further, the stepping motor 9 is operated to bring the damper 9A into the "closed" state, and the blower 8 is operated at "weak". At the same time, the heater 11 is turned on to perform the desorbing operation of the adsorbent 13. When the predetermined time td has elapsed, the heater 11 is turned off to check the supply air temperature, that is, the indoor temperature. This is for correcting the time of the desorption purge operation performed to enhance the efficiency of the desorption operation based on the room temperature, and sets the desorption purge time td 'according to the checked room temperature.

After the elapse of the desorption purge time, the air supply path is switched to the outdoor air supply 18 and the outdoor air exhaust 17, the air volume adjusting plate 9A is opened, and the air blower 8 is operated at "high". This operation is performed for a preset adsorption time ta, and the outdoor moisture is adsorbed by the adsorbent 13. When the adsorption time ta elapses, the blower 8 is changed to the "weak" operation, and after a predetermined time elapses, the ventilation path is switched to the indoor air supply 1 and the indoor exhaust 15 again, and the desorption operation described above is performed. The humidified water is discharged into the room. In the above operation, the change of the blower 8 to the "weak" operation after the elapse of the suction time ta is performed to reduce the resistance to the damper at the time of switching the blowing path and to eliminate the wind noise when the damper is switched. It is. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated to take in the outdoor moisture into the outdoor, so that the maintenance-free humidifying operation can be performed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the humidifying and ventilating operation. However, the basic operation is almost the same as the humidifying operation described with reference to FIG. Operation unit 2 according to humidification ventilation operation instruction
When the humidification / ventilation operation 26D is instructed via 7, the air supply path is set to the outdoor air supply 18 and the indoor exhaust air 15, and the desorption operation is performed while taking in the outdoor fresh air. When the desorption operation is completed in a predetermined sequence, the air supply path is switched to the indoor air supply 1 and the outdoor exhaust air 17, and the suction operation is performed while exhausting the dirty air in the room to the outside. As described above, the humidifying operation is performed by performing the desorption and the adsorption operation while performing the supply and exhaust ventilation inside and outside the room.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the dehumidifying and ventilating operation. The basic operation is almost the same as the dehumidifying operation described with reference to FIG. When the dehumidifying ventilation operation 26C is instructed by the dehumidifying ventilation operation instruction, a predetermined desorption operation is performed with the air supply path as the indoor air supply 1 and the outdoor exhaust 18. In other words, when the dirty air in the room is discharged outside the room, the adsorbent 1
In contrast, the dehumidifying operation is performed while taking in the outdoor air during the adsorbing operation and performing the ventilation operation.

As described above, in the dehumidifying / humidifying operation using the ventilation operation, there is an advantage that the room can be ventilated, although the performance is somewhat reduced, as compared with the case where the dehumidifying operation is performed exclusively.

[0029]

As described above, the dehumidifying / humidifying apparatus according to the present invention enables the indoor environment control to be efficiently performed and detects the dew point temperature by the signals of the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor provided in the air supply unit. In addition, it is possible to provide a maintenance-free and easy-to-use dehumidifying device that predicts the occurrence of dew condensation on the window glass and the inner wall due to a decrease in the outdoor temperature and forcibly performs a dehumidifying operation to eliminate a problem due to dew condensation. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a dehumidification / humidification controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a dew condensation preventing operation of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between a room temperature and a dew point temperature at each humidity.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a dehumidifying operation of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a humidifying operation of the apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a dehumidifying ventilation operation of the device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a humidifying ventilation operation of the device.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional dehumidification / humidification controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 air supply path 5 humidity sensor 6 air supply temperature sensor 8 blower 11 heater 13 adsorbent 15 exhaust path 16 path switching stepping motor 17 exhaust path 18 air supply path 24 dew point temperature calculating section 25 comparing section 26 operation instructing section 29 dew condensation prevention Control unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An air supply path and an exhaust path, which are configured to be switchable between an indoor side and an outdoor side, are provided with a blower for conveying air on the side of the air supply path, and air is provided at an outlet of the blower. In the dehumidifying and dehumidifying device, which has a heater for heating the air and a porous adsorbent formed downstream of the heater, a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor for detecting the supply air temperature and supply air humidity are provided at the inlet of the blower. A dew-point temperature calculator for calculating a dew-point temperature in a room based on signals from the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor; a comparator for comparing the calculated result of the dew-point temperature with the outdoor temperature obtained by the temperature sensor; A dehumidifying and humidifying device including a dew condensation prevention control unit that outputs an operation instruction signal to a unit.